Siebel Business Process Framework: Workflow Guide > Developing a Workflow Process > Process of Analyzing Business Requirements >

Gathering Information for Workflow Process Planning

This task is a step in Process of Analyzing Business Requirements.

You start gathering information by looking at how your organization currently handles workflow issues, business processes, and overall workflow. These current processes are the basis of what you create using Siebel Workflow.

If you currently have an automated system, you must gather information on the processes handled by that system. It is also important to understand the limitations or problems that the current system has that you need to address with Siebel Workflow Processes.

Areas you might need to research for your current workflow process include:

• Existing process information.
• Measures for improvement or new process requirements.

Researching Existing Process Information

Sources from which existing process information can be derived include:

• Current automated processes
• Management guidelines
• Written guidelines of process rules or approval paths
• Internal procedures, written or unwritten

For example, assume you must document the workflow lifecycle for a new work item, such as a service request, from the moment the service request is initiated to the moment it is finished. Include information about decision points in the process, such as when a service request must be escalated or which approval path an order takes when it is high priority compared with low priority.

Researching New Processes and Areas for Improvement

After you have gathered as much information as you can about existing processes, review the information you have to determine if there are opportunities for improvement in the process or whether a new process is required. Possible requirements for improvement include:

• New management guidelines or business requirements that must be addressed.
• Current problems that must be solved.
• Areas you must make more visible.
• Customer satisfaction issues.
• Workflow processes you must automate.